ed, and obtain reinforcements and supplies. But all these fond
hopes were disappointed.

The natives, under a leader named Quibian, rallied in large numbers,
probably intending to drive the colonists away. It was only by the
boldest measures that their plans were met. When Columbus supposed that
he had suppressed their enterprise, he took leave of his brother, as he
had intended, leaving him but one of the four vessels.

Fortunately, as it proved, the wind did not serve. He sent back a boat
to communicate with the settlement, but it fell into the hands of the
savages. Doubtful as to the issue, a seaman, named Ledesma, volunteered
to swim through the surf, and communicate with the settlement. The brave
fellow succeeded. By passing through the surf again, he brought back the
news that the little colony was closely besieged by the savages.

It seemed clear that the settlement must be abandoned, that Columbus's
brother and his people must be taken back to Spain. This course was
adopted. With infinite difficulty, the guns and stores which had been
left with the colony were embarked on the vessels of the Admiral. The
caravel which had been left for the colony could not be taken from the
river. She was completely dismantled, and was left as the only memorial
of this unfortunate colony.

At Puerto Bello he was obliged to leave another vessel, for she had been
riddled by the teredo. The two which he had were in wretched condition.
"They were as full of holes as a honey-comb." On the southern coast of
Cuba, Columbus was obliged to supply them with cassava bread. The leaks
increased. The ships' pumps were insufficient, and the men bailed out
the water with buckets and kettles. On the twentieth of June, they were
thankful to put into a harbor, called Puerto Bueno, on the coast of
Jamaica, where, as it proved, they eventually left their worthless
vessels, and where they were in exile from the world of civilization for
twelve months.

Nothing in history is more pathetic than the memory that such a waste of
a year, in the closing life of such a man as Columbus, should have
been permitted by the jealousy, the cruelty, or the selfish ambition of
inferior men.

He was not far from the colony at San Domingo. As the reader will
see, he was able to send a message to his countrymen there. But those
countrymen left him to take his chances against a strong tribe of
savages. Indeed, they would not have been sorry to know that he was
dead